08/26/07

With nearly their entire roster returning from their 2006 UMAC tournament-champion squad, the Saints will start the 2007 campaign as the favorite following voting by the league's coaches in the conferencen's preseason poll.

Both St. Scholastica and Northwestern received 43 points in the poll but the Saints picked up four first-place votes compared to three for the Eagles.

Returnees for the Saints this season include All-UMAC defensive specialist Diana Moody and honorable mention all-conference setter Kati Berscheit whose sister LeAnn -- All-UMAC last year -- graduated this past May as the program's career blocks leader.

 Official UMAC Press Release with poll results (PDF)